In this section of our Colossus Movie Guide for In the Mood for Love, we delve into the significance of the film’s title.
Cast
- Maggie Cheung – Su Li-zhen (Mrs. Chan)
- Tony Leung – Chow Mo-wan
- Siu Ping Lam – Ah Ping
- Rebecca Pan – Mrs. Suen
- Kelly Lai Chen – Mr. Ho
- Joe Cheung – man living in Mr. Koo’s apartment
- Chan Man-Lei – Mr. Koo
- Chin Tsi-ang – Suen’s female servant
- Roy Cheung – Mr. Chan (voice)
- Paulyn Sun – Mrs. Chow
- Wong Kar-wai – Writer and director
Why is the movie called In the Mood for Love?
Love as a mood
At face value, the title In the Mood for Love suggests a state of emotional readiness to experience love. But in the context of the movie, it isn’t about succumbing to the giddy, all-encompassing passion that is often associated with love. Instead, it implies a subtle, understated attraction that never fully blossoms into an overt romantic relationship due to societal constraints and personal obligations. The title taps into the melancholic undertones of the film. It conveys a sense of sorrow and longing—an emotional state that is familiar to anyone who has yearned for a love that they can’t have. It’s a frustrating state of desiring what one can’t have, and this paradox forms the heart of their shared anguish.
This mood of love is encapsulated in the film’s tone, the choice of music, the use of color, and the detailed cinematography. The interactions between the characters, their shared meals, their coinciding routines—all are subtly designed to convey their mutual attraction and their emotional readiness to fall in love. However, their commitment to social decorum forces them to restrain their feelings, leaving them perpetually “in the mood for love,” yet unable to act upon it.
The title In the Mood for Love hence stands as a metaphor for the emotional state of the characters. It captures their longing for emotional intimacy, the silent, shared pain of unfulfilled desire, and the enduring hope of a love that may never come to fruition. It signifies a state of being caught between societal norms and individual desires, between obligation and passion, and between ethical restraint and emotional release.
Despite being just a phrase, the title communicates the essence of the characters’ emotional landscape with its contradictions and complexities. It portrays love not just as a feeling but as a mood—an atmosphere that permeates their lives and influences their actions. It manifests in their shared silences, their meaningful glances, their unspoken words, and their melancholic resignation to their fate.
In this context, “being in the mood for love” doesn’t necessarily lead to the act of loving. It might instead lead to a shared understanding, an emotional connection, and a profound bond that transcends the traditional boundaries of love. Through its title, the movie paints a picture of love that is as heart-wrenchingly beautiful as it is unattainable—drawing the viewers into a world where love is a mood, a longing, a silent conversation that remains largely unexpressed but deeply felt.
The film’s original title
While the English title In the Mood for Love is derived from a song and has its own layers of interpretation, the original Chinese title adds further depth to the film’s themes and overall message. The original title, translated as “the age of blossoms” or “the flowery years,” serves as a poignant metaphor for youth, beauty, and love in their most fleeting and ephemeral state.
This title embodies a sense of temporariness and transient beauty, which is echoed throughout the movie. Just like blossoms in full bloom that are destined to wilt, the youth, beauty, and love represented in the film are presented as fragile, momentary, and, ultimately, ephemeral. It underscores the transient nature of the attraction between Chow and Su, and their suppressed emotions that never reach fruition—much like blossoms that never turn into fruit.
The metaphor for fleeting youth, beauty, and love ties in closely with the recurring theme of time in the film. The repeated emphasis on clocks and the passing of time subtly remind viewers that the period of “blossoms” or youthful beauty is not permanent, and moments missed are gone forever.
The English title, on the other hand, derived from the song “I’m in the Mood for Love,” reflects the film’s exploration of the complexities and nuances of romantic and emotional desire. Both titles, while diverse in their cultural origins and immediate connotations, converge to form a rich tapestry of meanings that define and enhance the narrative of In the Mood for Love. The interplay of the two titles captures the blend of longing, unfulfilled love, the passage of time, and the inherent beauty and sadness of transient moments, which constitute the core themes of this deeply evocative film.
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